Hello, I just planted 2 Spireas about 3 weeks ago, I followed directions to plant them. I've been watering them regularly. It's been hot and dry in southern Michigan. The outer leaves and stems are green and the flowers are in bloom, but I noticed last night the inner stems and leaves are brown and dried up. Any help? I called the nursary where I purchased them, I do have a 1 yr warranty and they recommend fertilizer. Also said they may recover. Thanks!

This sounds like they are going through transplanting recover. Plants will send food to the newer younger foliage and flowers at the expense of inner older plant parts. Spirea are quick to respond to even a brief period where they needed moisture and temporary did not get it. As soon as you are ok with it, cutting the flowers off will redirect food elsewhere in the the plant. When watering, be sure the root ball or container ball is moist as this is where all the roots are. Surrounding soil may be moist, yet there are no roots there to absorb the moisture.

Hi Ricky R! I’m not sure when you posted this or if you’ll get this message, but can you tell me if they recovered and how you handled it? I planted 3 White frost spirea abkut a month ago as well here in Colorado. Same reaction - beautiful green and blooming but if I look close and dive into the middle — totally spindly brown dry and dead looking ??. I cut back the flowers like Richard recommended. Hoping this brings them back to life. No idea if I have over watered or under watered. This is the ongoing question I have with everything I plant. ?? thanks for any update!